Teatime Tales – Page 2

She is tolerable… (C.E. Brock Illustration)

C. E. Brock, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Isn’t this a lovely book illustration? I thought it would go well with the story excerpt I want to share today…

Have you ever wondered what was going through Mr. Darcy’s head when he made his infamous slighting remark at the Meryton assembly? Have you ever wondered how things might have changed if he had been turned around and forced to say what he said while looking directly at Elizabeth while he said it?

Well, I have. 🙂 And that is exactly the questions that sparked From Tolerable to Lovely in my mind. It’s a short tale with only four chapters, and it’s free for followers to read on Ream this month. (And if I get it up there before Wednesday, on Patreon as well.)

Below is how the story begins – with Darcy’s thoughts and then his getting turned about. I’ll let you read the rest of the tale to see how he proceeds once he’s facing her. I’ve put links to both Ream and Patreon at the end of the story.

Enjoy!

NOW AVAILABLE: An Accomplished Lady (of the best sort)

Today is the day! An Accomplished Lady (of the best sort) is now available everywhere! (Get it here)

By proving his friend wrong, he might just make everything right.

This excerpt is from chapter one. Hurst is not wrong. This Bingley will do his best to get what he wants!

For the better part of an afternoon at Netherfield, Charles Bingley has listened to his sister promote herself to his best friend, Fitzwilliam Darcy. And for the same amount of time, he’s observed his friend trying not to give in to his desire to admire Miss Elizabeth Bennet. When the discussion turns to the qualifications of an accomplished lady, he listens closely and knows, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that marrying such a lady would only bring sorrow to his friend.

After the ladies have left the room, he attempts to address the issue in a friendly sort of manor. However, when Darcy goes a step too far in sharing his opinions of the lady Bingley loves, friendly tactics are tossed aside in favour of a more direct and calculated approach.

An Accomplished Lady (of the Best Sort) is a novelette of just over 17,000 words and is the sixth installment in Leenie Brown’s Teatime Tales Collection of Austen-inspired quick reads. If you’re looking for a romantic and entertaining escape from the everyday, then you’ll enjoy this story where a determined Bingley does what he must to secure not only his own happily ever after, but also that of his friend.

So put the kettle on, download your copy of An Accomplished Lady (of the Best Sort), and join Bingley and Hurst as they poke, prod, and arrange for Darcy to follow his heart and marry the right sort of accomplished lady.

FInd An Accomplished Lady at your Favourite Retailer

Pride and Prejudice Illustration by C.E. Brock

Charles Edmund Brock (1870-1938), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

On Friday, I have a new Teatime Tales story publishing called An Accomplished Lady (of the Best Sort). So I thought I’d share a little teaser from the story with you today.

You should know that it is a story that is told completely from Bingley’s point of view as he attempts to make his best friend realize that Miss Elizabeth is his friend’s perfect match. And, I’m sure when you read the excerpt, you will know both the setting place and time (as it relates to the timeline of P&P) and why I chose the above image for today’s post.

Enjoy!

The January 2022 Saturday Broadsheet

The Saturday Broadsheet, with all my writing life updates, is now available at the link at the bottom of this short post.

In this issue of the Broadsheet you will find:

Info about what, if anything, is posting on my blog.
Info about my writing and publishing news, including a link for subscribers to a free download, links for where to find my newest releases, and a first glimpse at a NEW Teatime Tales story.
Info about any book promotions: I have one book on sale for the next week and have two included in a multi-author promotion.
And an entertaining and informative video about shortbreads.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE January 2022 SATURDAY BROADSHEET

Have a great weekend!

I hope you have time to read a book.

The Surprise (A Collection of Valentines Ancient and Modern, c. 1876)

From the book *The Quiver of Love: A Collection of Valentines Ancient and Modern*, a collection of love poems published in 1876, illustrated by Walter Crane and Kate Greenaway (source)
. The illustration was created for “The Surprise”, a translation of a German poem by Heinrich Heine (source: Google Play eBook edition page 44, 45)
. It reads:

THE SURPRISE
I dreamt I saw you yesternight,
And claspt my hands about your eyes,
Nor dared to venture in your sight
Until you pardoned the surprise.
So take my letter, Valentine,
My name and mission quickly guess —
I fear to offer word or sign;
I wait until you whisper “Yes.”

(Public domain via Wikimedia Commons)

“You knew she was behind me?” There was a bit of venom in Darcy’s whisper.

Fisticuff might not happen in the garden, but Bingley was not certain he was going to survive this bit of trickery without some damage to his person.

[from Mr. Bingley Plans a Ball]

MAILING LIST PATREON